Suction cleaner



June 4, 1940. v. E. CARLSON' I SUCTION CLEANER Original Filed Dec. 10, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTQR VerzzazzE Carlson ATTORN EY June 4, 1940. v. E. cARLsoN SUCTION. CLEANER 1 Original Filed Dec. 10, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIIIIIIIl/I/II/l "'IIIIII lNVEN TOR 7 Vernon 15 C aria-012 ATTORN EY Patented June 4, 1940 UNITED STATES SUCTION CLEANER Vernon E. Carlson, Canton, Ohio, assig'nor-to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December 10, 1937, Serial No. 179,084

Renewed August 18, 1939 7 Claims.

The present invention relates to suction cleaners in general and particularly to new and novel,

handle control means in a suction cleaner. More specifically the invention comprises an improved handle position control in a suction cleaner which is characterized in that a foot-operated lever controls the positions and ranges of movement of the pivoted cleaner handle.

The modern suction cleaner is propelled across the surface covering undergoing cleaning by a force exerted by the operator through the pivoted cleaner handle. This pivoted handle has three principal positions or ranges of movement. In the storage position the handle extends vertically so that it occupies a minimum of floor space when the machine is not in use. In normal use by the operator the handle is pivoted through an intermediate or operating range between the vertical and the horizontal. The machlneis often left temporarily before the completion of the cleaning and it is desirable that the handle remain in this operating range. To accomplish this control means are usually provided which prevent the handle from moving unintentionally from the operating range to a lower horizontal position. In the use of the cleaner it also becomes necessary at times to propel the machine under low articles of furniture such as beds, etc., and in such instances it is desirable that the cleaner handle extend substantially horizontally so as not to increase the effective over-all height of the machine. The handle control means must, therefore, be designed to permit the handleto move from the operating range into the horizontal position or range. Experience in the use of cleaners has indicated the desirability of preventing theunintentional movement of the ma chine from the vertical position into the operating range and from the operating range into 40 the horizontal position while permitting unhindered, or substantially unhindered, movement of the handle from the horizontal position to the operating position and from the operating position to the vertical.

In the handle control constructed in accordance with the present invention the desirable relationships above set forth are accomplished by a new and novel mechanism which includes a foot-operated release lever.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved suction cleaner. It is another object of the invention to provide a suction cleaner embodying new and improved handle control means. vention is to provide a suction cleaner with a A still further object of the inpivoted handle provided with novel positioncontrolling means. Still another object is to provide a handle position-controlling structure embodying foot-operated means. A further object is to provide a pivoted handle in a suction 5 cleaner which is movable freely from certain positions to certain other positions, but which is prevented from movement from certain positions to certain other positions except when released by foot-operated means. These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification and claims and upon considering in connection therewith the attached drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed:

Figure 1 is a side view of a modern suction cleaner with certain parts of the casing broken away to illustrate a pivoted handle and its controlling means constructed in accordance with the present invention embodied therein;

' Figure 2 is a partial top view of the rear of the cleaner with certain parts of the motor hood broken away to showthe invention embodied therein;

Figure 3 is a vertical section upon the line 3-3 of Figure 2 and illustrates the handle-positioncontrolling means with the handle in the operating range;

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section upon 0 the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 but with the foot lever depressed to permit the handle to move from the operating range to the horizontal position; t

Figure 6 is a partial section upon the line 6-6 of Figure 4 and illustrates the coil spring which normally supports a part of the handle weight.

The present invention is embodied in a mod- 40 em suction cleaner which is best illustrated in Figure 1. The cleaner is of-a well known",design and includes a nozzle I which houses a rotary agitator 2 and which is interiorly connectedv by an air passageway 3 to a fan .chamber 4 within which is positioned a rotating suctioncreating fan 5 mounted upon the extended lower end of the motor shaft 6. The motor is unshown but may be of any common and well known design and is positioned immediately above the fan chamber 4 within the motor hood I. The rotation of the motor shaft drives the suction-creating fan 5 resulting in the movement of air into the nozzle I and into the fan chamber 4 from which it is exhausted through the exhaust outlet 3 into the dust bag 3 where the suspended foreign material is filtered out and the air esg capes into the surrounding atmosphere. The

bag 9 is secured to the exhaust outlet 3 by releasable manual securing means l0. The rotation of motor shaft 3 also causes the rotation of the agitator 2 which is connected to the shaftcarried pulley II by a power-transmitting belt l2. Agitator 2 functions, through being provided with the common and well known beating and brushing elements, to dislodge foreign material from the surface covering below the nozzle. The entire cleaner is movably supported upon front wheels l3 and rear wheels is which are partially concealed from view by skirts l5, l5 which extend rearwardly from the ends of the nozzle I and along the sides of the fan chamber 4 and exhaust outlet 8; and a handle [6, the mounting and position-controlling means for which comprise the present invention, is provided by which the operator can propel the entire assembly over the surface covering to perform the cleaning function.

The handle I6 is pivotally mounted to the body of the cleaner through being removably clamped in a socket it which is formed with an integral forward extremity having flat side faces [9, l9 spaced apart by substantially the diameter of the handle and joined by' a circular top wall 23 lying substantially concentric with the pivotal axis of the handle and socket. That pivotal axis is provided by a. pin 2!! which extends through the faces l9, l9 and which is carried by brackets 22, 22 mounted upon the top surface of the exhaust outlet 8 and secured in place by screws 23, 23 etc.

The provision of a coil spring 25, which encircles the pivot pin M with its extended opposite ends seating under an internal abutment 26 upon one socket plate l9 and under a rigid pin 21 carried by one bracket 22, results in a decrease in the handle weight which must be lifted and supported by the operator in cleaner operation as the spring at all times tends to force the handle upwardly. The provision of a removable bottom plate 28 between the side walls l9, l9 and upon the opposite side of the pivot pin 2| from the curved top wall 23 serves to complete the handle socket proper.

The handle-position-controlling means comprises a. control plate 30 pivoted upon a pin 3i carried by a forwardly extending arm 32 on one of the brackets 22 immediately adjacent the exterior of a socket plate It. Control plate 33 extends downwardly and rearwardly below the pivot pin 2! of the handle and is formed with a central open part which acts as a guide system for a fixed pin 33 carried by one of the socket plates I9. The configuration of the interior of the control plate is such that the pin 33 can move along the top surface 34 thereof from one end of the system to the other without interference, but the bottom surface is divided into three distinct ranges or positions by stops 35 and 36.

The handle-moved pin 33 is adapted to be positioned in the extreme upper end of the slot system in the seat 38 when the handle is in the horizontal position. From this position the handle can be pivoted with the pin 33 sliding along the bottom edge of the plate without interference directly into the operating range of handle positions defined in the slot system between the stops 36 and 35. The stop 36 is a positive stop 15 and to move the handle from the operating range into the horizontal position a force is necessary to pivot the control plate 33 downwardly to permit the pin 33 to ride thereover. The stop 35 separates the intermediate or operating range from the vertical position, which is indicated by the reference character 4|. Stop 35 is so contoured and cammed on its operating-range side that a slight force is required to cause the pin 33 to ride on it, an operation which actually comprises forcing the plate 30 downwardly against the forces normally urging it upwardly. On its vertical-position side, however, stop 35 is positive and, with the pin 33 within the vertical position, movement of the handle therefrom into either the operating range or into the horizontal position is only possible if an outside force is exerted to lower the control plate so that pin 33 can avoid stops 35 and 36.

The control plate 33 is pivotally connected by a pin 43 to a link 45 which extends downwardly through the body skirt l5 at the side of exhaust outlet 3. The lower end of link 45 is pivotally connected below the skirt i5 by a pin 46 to the offset end of a crank-lever 41 which is journalled on and extends transversely across the underside of the exhaust outlet 3. The opposite end of crank-lever 41 extends to the rear of the cleaner casing skirt at the side of the exhaust outlet as a foot pedal and is provided with a corrugated or roughened surface as indicated at 48. k

This pedal end of the crank-lever is at all times raised and urged upwardly by a coil spring 50 which is carried below the skirt l5 immediately adjacent the exhaust outlet 8 and which is formed with a hooked lower end which extends through an eye 5! formed upon the pedal. The action of spring 50 in urging and drawing the pedal end of crank-lever 41 upwardly is to move the link 45 attached to the opposite end of the crank-lever in an upward direction thereby urging the control plate upwardly so that its bottom surface or edge normally contacts the control pin 33.

The operation of the handle control constructed in accordance with the present invention is as follows. Assuming the handle to be in the storage position the pin 33 will rest in the seat 4| in the control plate, the bottom edge of the plate being held in contact with the pin by the spring 50. In the storage position the propelling force upon the cleaner cannot comfortably or conveniently be exerted and it is necessary for the operator in order to propel the machine to pivot the handle downwardly into the operating range. In order to dothis the pin 33 must pass over the stop 35 which can only be avoided by lowering the control plate 30. This the operator does by stepping upon the pedal extremity 48 of the crank arm 41. With the control plate so lowered, as illustrated in Figure 5, the handle can pivot downwardly into the working range, or if the operator desires and continues to hold the pedal 48 in the lowered position, into the horizontal position defined by the seat 38. If the operator desires to use the machine, however, he will pivot the handle until the pin 33 passes the stop 35 and enters the working range at which time he will release the pedal 48 and the pin 33 will ride upon the control plate between the stops 35 and 36. Within the pivotal limits set by the contact of handle-moved pin 33 with stops 35 and 33 the operator can perform substantially all cleaning operations upon the surface covering to be cleaned. Should it be necessary, however, to lower the handle to a substantially vertical position, he must again press downwardly with his foot upon the lever pedal 48 to lower the plate to permit the pin 33 to ride over the stop 36. However, should he desire to return the handle to the storage position from the working range, a slight additional force exerted upon the handle will cause the pin 33 to ride over the cammed contoured face of stop 35 by forcing the plate 30 downwardly against the tension of spring 50. The change from one position or range of positions to another is simply accomnlished and is a mechanism with which the operor readily familiarizes himself.

I claim:

1. In a suction cleaner, a body including a nozzle, fan chamber and exhaust outlet, a handle pivoted on the top of said outlet, a control plate pivoted on the top of said body and formed with a plurality of stops along one side, a pin connected to said handle and movable along said side and into contact with said stops to limit the pivotal movement of said handle, a foot-operated lever mounted on the underside of said body and connected to said plate by a member extended upwardly through said body, a resilient spring urging said lever upwardly and said side of said plate into contact with said pin, said lever being adapted to receive a downward force to move the side of said plate from said pin to permit unhindered movement of said handle.

2. In a suction cleaner, a body including a nozzle, fan chamber and exhaust outlet, a handle socket pivotally mounted on the top of said exhaust outlet, a handle seated in said socket, a pin carried by said socket and movable therewith about the pivotal axis, a control member adapted to contact said pin in the pivotal movement of said handle to limit same, and means to move said control member to inoperative position comprising a link connected thereto and extended downwardly through said body, a foot-operated lever mounted on the underside of said body and connected to said link, and a spring urging said lever upwardly to secure said control member by a force transmitted through said link, in pin contacting position, said lever and link being adapted to move said control member to inoperative position upon the reception of a downward force by said lever. A

-3. In a suction cleaner, a body including a nozzle, -fan chamber, exhaust outlet and overhanging skirt adjacent the latter, a handle pivoted on the top of said outlet, central control means restricting the pivotal movement of said handle, a foot-operated release lever mounted on the underside of said exhaust outlet, connected to said control means, and extended outwardly beyond said skirt, and spring means beneath said skirt urging said lever upwardly and normally 7 holding said control means in operative position.

4. In a suction cleaner, a body including a fan chamber having an exhaust outlet, wheels movably supporting said body with said outlet above the supporting surface, a handle pivoted on the top of said fan chamber outlet, position-controlling means for said handle positioned on the top of said outlet, a motor hood overlying the fan chamber and exhaust outlet and providing a casing for said handle and position-controlling means through which the former extend upwardly, a foot-operated lever mounted below the exhaust outlet, connected to said position-controlling means to transmit an adjusting force thereto, and extended at the side of said outlet, and spring means urging said lever upwardly into a position to receive a downwardly directed force.

5. In a suction cleaner, an ambulatory main casing including a nozzle, fan chamber and ex,- haust .outlet, a propelling handle pivotally mounted on said main casing above said outlet, a motor hood positioned upon said main casing and overlying said fan chamber and exhaust outlet and enclosing the pivotal mounting of said handle, said handle extending through and beyond said hood.

6. In a suction cleaner, an ambulatory main casing including a nozzle, fan chamber and exhaust outlet, mounted above said outlet, handle-position-controlling means adjacent the pivot point of said handle, a motor hood positioned upon said main casing, overlying said fan chamber and exhaust outlet, and enclosing the pivotal mounting oi said handle and said handle-position-controlling means adjacent thereto, said handle extending through and beyond said hood.

7. In a suction cleaner, a main casing including a forwardly'located nozzle, an intermediate fan chamber connected thereto, and a rearwardly extended exhaust outlet leading from said fan chamber, supporting wheels carried by said main casing adjacent said nozzle and said exhaust outlet, an elongated handle, means carried by said main casing immediately above said exhaust outlet pivotally supporting said handle, adjustable means controlling the position and range of movement of said handle adjacent the pivotal axis of said handle and a hood positioned upon said main casing and enclosing the pivotal mounting means of said handle and the controlling means adjacent thereto, said handle extending upwardly from said hood.

VERNON E, CARLSON.

a propelling handle pivotally Disclaimer 2,202,983.-Vemon E. Carlson, Canton, Ohio. SUCTION CLEANER. Patent dated June 4, 1940. Disclaimer filed May 11, 1948, by the assignee, The Hoover Company. Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 5, 6, and 7 of said patent.

[Ofiicial Gazette June 8, 1948.] 

